Several years ago, blogger Rachelle Gardner challenged readers to write a six word memoir. She gave her own example: "Too much coffee? No such thing." As someone who struggles with being brief, I thought it would be a good exercise. It was, and I finally landed on these six words: "Jesus used … [Read more...] about Six Word Story
Rest & Relief
On Moving to a New Place
In 2012, about 100 blog posts ago, I set up a little blog called Permission to be Real. It was born out of unexpected inner conflict when my youngest started kindergarten. When I dropped him off for school the first day, I thought I might cry. Lots of my friends had cried. However, I’d dropped … [Read more...] about On Moving to a New Place
Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
Kurt and I recently stayed in a pretty swanky hotel. We were swimming in “amenities” we didn’t even know how to use: For the safe keeping of my Walmart jewelry, there was a safe which I couldn’t open. There was also a spa and fitness room which we never found. But there was one “amenity” that was … [Read more...] about Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
Growing Gratitude
Back in the day when the boys were 2, 3, and 4 years old, it was a little rugged around our house. I was plagued by my inability to mother like I thought I should--you know, teaching my toddlers to use their manners, say thank you, and always obey. But since that rarely went as planned, I almost … [Read more...] about Growing Gratitude
When Trick-or-Treaters Make You Think of Jesus
I counted about 27 princesses and nearly as many ninja warriors. Not to mention a walking vending machine, and a few pixelated Minecraft characters. There were little girls who felt perfectly secure as princesses and insecure teenagers who were “too old” to dress up, but still young enough to be … [Read more...] about When Trick-or-Treaters Make You Think of Jesus
When You Pray About Your First-World-Problems
My pre-workout brain teaser. There is so much to be legitimately upset about, but last week, the thing that brought me down, was a first-world-problem.It wasn’t that Burger King no longer offers honey-mustard dressing, or that I had to spend the first three minutes of my workout untangling my … [Read more...] about When You Pray About Your First-World-Problems